Chapter 2 A Family of Their Own

For the next two days, they didn't contact me even once.

I only found out how they were doing through a relative's social media post.

They were throwing a lavish housewarming party in that video. The three of them stood together in front of a huge cake, smiling as they cut into it and shouted in unison, "Together again in our new home!"

I liked the post.

My father called me less than 10 minutes later.

"What exactly are you trying to pull?" His voice was strained. It was clear he was barely holding back his anger. "You deliberately refuse to come with us, then you turn around and make sure our relatives notice you're gone.

"What, do you expect us to roll out the red carpet and beg you to come?"

I said nothing.

That only made him angrier. "We already paid back whatever we owed you with our lives in our last life. What more do you want?"

My mother snatched the phone from him, her voice breaking. "Do you have any idea how long your sister blamed herself because you didn't come? She finally started feeling better today, and you just had to ruin it!

"How did I end up with a daughter as petty as you? Tell me, was your sister's death in our last life your doing, too?"

I listened to one accusation after another before letting out a bitter laugh.

"You know what?" I said slowly. "Every word you just said is exactly why I didn't come."

I hung up before either of them could hurl another round of abuse my way.

My phone started vibrating again almost immediately. My parents' numbers took turns lighting up my screen.

I held down the power button, shut off my phone, and tossed it into a drawer. Then, I focused on my studies.

I stopped clinging to the idea that blood made us family. Once I made it to a foreign country, I would build a family of my own.

Two days later, I went to school as usual.

When I reached the classroom, my homeroom teacher looked at me in surprise. "Why are you still here? Your parents just dropped by to withdraw you from school."

My heart lurched. "I didn't ask to withdraw. They moved to a new city, but I didn't want to change schools. I was afraid it would affect my studies, so I stayed behind."

My teacher frowned, looking troubled. "But the paperwork for the withdrawal has already gone through. According to the system, you're no longer enrolled here."

My nails dug into my palms as I asked tremulously, "Then, what about my exchange-student application?"

She was silent for a few seconds before sighing. "You're no longer enrolled at this school, so your application was rejected as well."

A loud ringing filled my ears. "Can you give me some time, please? I'll get my enrollment restored. Studying abroad is my dream. I don't want to lose this opportunity."

When my teacher saw how I'd become all teary-eyed, she patted me on the shoulder. "Don't panic. We were all disappointed when we heard you were suddenly leaving. You've always been the top student in your grade. You're one of the best students at this school."

Her voice softened. "If you want to stay, I'll wait for you. I promise I'll resubmit your exchange-student application as soon as your enrollment here is restored."

I bowed deeply.

When I left the office, I wiped away my tears and immediately called my mother.

It took a long time for her to answer. Before she could even say anything, I demanded hotly, "Why did you withdraw me from school without asking me? As far as I remember, I never said I was going with you."